TheKlaxonDiary

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The Klaxon Diarypre

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The klaxons sounded on lamp-posts at every major street corner and the offices emptied at a brisk but orderly pace.pre

The civilians of Hampton La Zarre had practiced regularly since Z-Day when our leaders determined we were facing danger. Only now this was no practice drill. Over at Simone Navarre a town of similar size, one of their bombers had gotten through the cordon. Even if you destroyed 99% of their air fleet, it only needed one to drop a thermo bomb to destroy a town. Casualties were a moderate number of deaths and disfigurement but the survivors had to be relocated to other towns,pre

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They said the the lamp-posts had melted like church candles and the klaxons shrivelled. All the concrete buildings were beyond repair. They said the lime and calcium in the cement had changed due to thermal radiation and only solid stone remained so the churches stood gaunt and still among the debris, their stained-glass dripping out of the stone windows, the interiors now blacked charcoal frames.pre

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Of course They counted it a success in the war but our side rightly condemned it as a senseless assault on decency, so we counter attacked next day but without success, our air fleet wing of 15 ships being totally destroyed.pre

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The prime minister called an emergency council and we moved our reserves to different airports like some ridiculous game of chess. A frontal troop attack was out of the question of course, it would result in total incineration, so now we hide deep underground until the all clear is sounded, as indeed do They if we launch a thermal bombardment on their side.pre

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We all question how on earth we got to this set of affairs.pre

We were deeply entrenched in class politics of the worst kind. Our side had the high ground and we offered sanctuary to anyone who could demonstrate their morality of 'Share and Share' as we call it. No such chance with the 'Founding Fathers' - They who held onto their wealth and punished those who stepped outside the rules. No health care except what credits were earned and a full days pay for a full days toil being their mantra.pre

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Slowly we segregated and over the years. We migrated west and even passed a law which forbade marriage to a Founder. They went east and forbade marriage to Sharers. Sure, a couple of percent tried homesteading in the marshes but they usually were burnt out by one side or another. So now we pretty much are truly separated with no chance of settlement.pre

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Imagine ! Nearly a hundred million on each side and itching to settle old scores. It was January ten years ago when a bunch of angry heads flew over and dropped ordnance on us. Nothing toxic of course, at least not at first, but we were the first who dropped the thermo bomb and pretty soon we were all hiding in deep shelters.pre

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Of course agriculture took a hit and frankly we both are starving now for some months, so it can't go on, unless one of us wins big and maybe catches their leaders out in the open.pre

That'll teach them a lesson but one thing is sure we will never change our duty to sharing with the old or poor.pre

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We tried putting feelers out to their Boss but he snubbed our Prime Minister cold. That's what happens when you have the morals of a Founder.pre

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The klaxons just went again, which is funny to have it twice in one day. Maybe they're thinking uf upping the stakes. Well we can play that game too. I'd live underground for a year as long as we have water. pre

Nothing to do but update thus diary now. Will we find peace before this pencil runs out? I don't know.pre

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Two Months Laterpre

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Well sadly, it turns out that more bombers have gotten through than we anticipated and the destruction is far worse than we feared. While the death toll is still limited due to our deep underground shelters, the social cost of building destruction is appalling and folks are now living & sleeping underground, The thermo blitz is total and it will take years to rebuld. At this rate we wont have anything to return to. I guess They are in the same position because our brave crews report a thermo success rate of 1 in 20 but we are progressively running out of planes and crews. pre

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I have to report a tragedy has occurred today. The klaxons did not sound on time for some reason. 100,000 people were caught in the open in a northern town and the casualties were near 100%pre

The government is stunned and has asked for a truce while the nation grieves, no mention if this will alter our position.pre

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Remarkably, they have responded in kind. I believe this war was being felt at home by the Founders as much as we. It is even whispered in some circles that a new sunnit will be proposed to discuss our individual positions regarding where we go from here.pre

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Reports are coming in that in some towns the bunkers have run out of food. It had been kept secret but now a number of towns have people walking to adjoining towns, carrying white flags made from bedding and while fearful of an aerial attack, they have little choice.pre

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Another report. Salvation towns had to Share and Share but it has compounded the problem. Those towns had little enough food for their own but adding so many people has driven consumption so high that they are now in the same predicament.pre

The prime minister will speak tonight.pre

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According to the prime minister, our spies report the Founders have been in famine for weeks and it caused riots in three cities. Adjoining cities barricaded to defend their own reserves. That's just what we would expect of them. pre

The prime minister says a truce lasting three months will come into effect and everyone will be conscripted into land workers to raise crops, otherwise we will starve to death.pre

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Reports have arrived that Founders are bartering some of their crops in exchange for ours. They don't seem so cocky now their bellies are empty. Maybe there is hope yet.pre

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The prime minister has returned from a summit with news of a moratorium on weapons of destruction. It has cost both sides more than half a million dead. Further, we are to hold an election soon, if we can agree, to form a coalition government. Pray God it can save us from ourselves or we are doomed. pre

Created with _][_Writer2ePub

by Luca Calcinai

TheKlaxonDiary

A science fiction story set in an indeterminate country, where the two political segments of the population fall
into bitter confrontation, leading to breakdown of their society